Filling arrangement for a liquefied gas lighter



Dec. 31; 1963 A. L.ABAT 3, 5, 07

FILLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A LIQUEFIED GAS LIGHTER Filed March 28, 1961 2sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR= Anfoine Labaf his ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1963 A.LABAT 3,115,907

FILLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A LIQUEFIED GAS LIGHTER Filed March 28, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 6 30 8 a 7 g If E2 INVENTOR.

0 Antoine Labdf BY 23 Maw his ATTORNEYS I United States Patent ALIQUEFIED Gas lighters are known comprising a tank which is pro videdwith a filling valve through which the liquefied gas passes from astorage or supply cylinder, and with a vending valve acting as an escapeor blow-off to enable the gaseous mixture inthe tank to be expelled toatmosphere by the entering liquefied gas (generally butane) which is totake its place. Other lighter tanks have special valves comprising twoducts, one for filling with liquefied gas and the other for expulsion ofthe gaseous mixture to atmosphere. These various types of escape valvesform an integral part of the actual lighter or of a tank detachabletherefrom.

The invention relates to a filling arrangement for a liquefied gaslighter, comprising in combination a supply valve on the gas-supplycylinder and a lighter valve in the wall of the tank of the lighter,each valve being springoperated in closing and provided with aprojecting stem, the two stems coming into contact with one another inorder to produce opening of the two valves, and the spring of thegas-supply cylinder valve being more powerful than that of the lightervalve, that the casing of the gas-cylinder valve terminates in acylindrical nozzle, characterized in that the outer edge of said nozzleis formed with a notch which connects the interior of the nozzle, andhence the interior of the supply cylinder, to a slot formed in the Wallof the lighter valve casing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of saidcasing at a distance from the top wall of the tank determining theheight of a desirable safety zone in which there is to be a gaseousmixture when the tank is full, and that a second identical slot situatedin the same plane but diametrically opposite the first slot communicateswith an escape duct leading to atmosphere, the effective sectional areaof said duct being very much less than that of the aforesaid notch.

In one embodiment, the length of the cylindrical nozzle is greater thanthe distance which, when the valve is in the open position, separatesthe free surface of the lighter valve head from the free end of the bodyof this valve, and the outside diameter of. the gas-cylinder valvecasing is less than the free diameter of the hereof the lighter valvecasing.

In one arrangement according to the, invention, the inside diameter ofthe lighter valve body is about -10 hundredths of a millimetre largerthan the outside diameter of the cylindrical nozzle of the cylindervalve, and the drain or escape duct is formed by, the annular spacebounded by these elements during filling.

In a second arrangement, the cylindrical nozzle of the cylinder valvefits with slight friction into a gasket forming a seat for the lightervalve head, the drain or escape duct is formed by a groove disposedalong a generatrix of the external cylindrical surface of-said nozzle,and the notch is situated diametrically opposite said groove.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawingswill enable the invention to be more readily understood, and in thedrawings:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged central vertical section of a complete valvesystem according to the invention, the two valve heads being shown openfor the filling of the lighter.

FIGURE 2 is a section on a still larger scale corresponding to part ofFIGURE 1, and shows the position 2 of the cylindrical nozzle of thegas-cylinder valve in the casing of the lighter valve.

FIGURE 3 is an inverted plan view as seen in the direction of the arrowIII in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of a fragment of the lighter valve casing.

FIGURE 5 is an inverted in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial very diagrammatic sectional elevation of a knownlighter provided with an independent escape or blow-off valve andwherein the filling valve does not have a jet-breaker device.

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6 but shows a lighter of the same type inwhich the separate escape valve has been eliminated and replaced by avalve system according to the invention.

FIGURES 8-40 are similar views to FIGURES 1-3 respectively and show amodification of the escape or blow-off means, FIGURE 10 being a view inthe direction of the arrow X in FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it has been assumed that the fillingsystem is disposed vertically, and it will be seen that the storage orsupply cylinder containing the liquefied gas (generally butane) to becharged into the lighter, terminates in or is suitably connected to asupply valve casing 1 containing a spring 2, one end of which bearsagainst a part 3 fixedly connected in known manner (not shown) to thecasing 1 so as to permit the passage of the liquefied gas. The spring 2normally applies a supply valve-head 4- against a seat 1w formed in thebore of the casing 1, the said valve-head 4 comprising a downwardlyprojecting stem and a gasket 5, for example of rubber or similarmaterial. An annular space 6 surrounding the stem 4a enables theliquefied gas to pass from the inside of the storage cylinder, when thevalvehead 4 is open, to the interior of a hollow cylindrical nozzle 8forming a downward extension of the casing 1, in which nozzle the stem411 can move freely. The length of the nozzle 2% is preferably at least5mm. and its diameter preferably varies between 1.5 and 3 mm. at themaximum. The lower end of the cylindrical wall of the nozzle 8 is formedwith a notch 9 (FIGURES 2 and 3), the function of which will beexplained hereinafter.

Furthermore, the top wall 11 of the lighter tank is fitted with acylindrical lighter valve casing 15 having an axial bore. The top partof this bore is of a much larger diameter than that of the gas-cylindervalve casing 1 so as to permit the free introduction of this casing, andit is screwthreaded at 15.1. The top part of this screwthread isintended to receive a screw plug (not shown) which normally closes thefilling opening of the lighter. Its bottom part receives a sealing andvalve-seating assembly which includes an externally screw-threadedcylindrical valve body 12, and a sealing gasket 13, preferably of rubberor some similar material, bearing against an internal shoulder of thecasing 15, this shoulder being formed at the point of junction of thetwo different diameters, of the bore. Said valve body 12 in turn has abore, the diameter of which is only 510 hundredths of a millimetrelarger than that of the nozzle 8, so as to form an annular space '7 of2.5-5 hundredths of a millimetre thickness between these elements, thisspace forming an escape duct during filling of the lighter. A lightervalvehead 17 provided with an upstanding stem 17a and a gasket 14 slidesin the smaller-diameter bore 29 of the casing 15. The valve-head 17 isurged against a seat 12a formed at the inner end of the body 12, bymeans of a spring 13 which is seated on the closed end of the casing 15and is housed in an axial bore of the valve-head 17. Finally, the wallof the casing 15 has two very narrow slots l, see also FIGURES 4 and 5,preferably formed by circular milling cutters of a thickness of 2-3tenths plan section taken on V-V of a millimetre and of a diameter ofabout 18 mm., which connect the interior of the tank of the lighter tothe bore 29 around the stem 17a. The slots 16 are perpendicular to theaxis of the casing 15 and are therefore horizontal during filling of thelighter.

A space 28 is formed between the slots 16 and the Wall 11 of the lightertank and, as will hereinafter be seen, becomes filled with a gaseousmixture and forms a safety zone.

The length of the nozzle 8 must be greater than the distance which, inthe open position of the lighter filling valve head, separates the freeface of the valve-head 17, that is to say the top surface of the gasket14, from the free end of the body 12, that is to say the surface 12b ofthis body 12. situated at the opposite end to the seat 12a, so that theend 122 of the supply valve casing 1 always leaves an escape passagebetween itself and the body 12 for the gaseous mixture expelled by theintroduction of a fresh charge of liquefied gas into the lighter.

It will be seen that it is very important that the outer surface of thenozzle 8 and the inner surface of the part 12 should be machined withgreat precision so that the diameters of these surfaces may be strictlyconstant over the entire length of the elements, and thus ensure thatthe extremely small clearances mentioned above may be obtained. On theother hand, the machining precision for the slots 16 need not be sostrict, in view of the proportionally much larger dimensions of theseslots.

in FIGURES 6 and 7 lighters each compris ng a wick 22 and a burner 23are shown diagrammatically. In FIGURE 6, the lighter of known type has afilling valve 15 and an independent escape or blow-off valve 24. InFIGURE 7, the lighter is equipped with a valve system 15 according tothe invention, and has no separate and independent escape valve fitting.

in the modifications shown in FIGURES 8l0, parts like those in FIGURES 1to are given like references and the modified pm'ts are given likereferences accompanied by a prime. The essential difference between thetwo constructions lies in the fact that the escape duct is in this caseconstituted by a groove 7' formed exte nally in the thickness of thewall of the cylindrical nozzle 83' of the gas supply cylinder. The notch9' is formed in the wall of the nozzle practically diametricallyopposite the groove 7'. The seat for the valve head 17 is in this caseformed by the surface of a gasket 13', preferably of rubber or similarmaterial, which has an axial bore of such a diameter as will enable thenozzle 8' to be inserted with slight friction, this gasket 13 being helddown by a part 12, similar to the body 12 in FIGURES l and 2, which isscrewed into the screwthread a. The part 12 and the gasket 13constitutes a lighter sealing and valve-seating assembly.

Filling the lighter and at the same time releasing the escape passagesare effected as (follows: After the plug (not shown) screwed into thescrew-thread 15a has been withdrawn, the nozzle 8 is inserted. Thisinsertion brings the two stems 4a and 17a of the valve-heads 4 and 17into contact with one another; since care has been taken to make thespring 2 of the valve-head 4- more powerful than the spring 18 of thevalve-head 17, the latter opens first; at that instant, the end of thenozzle 8 is in sealingtight contact with the gasket 14 of the valve-head17; if the nozzle 8 is inserted further, the valve-head 17 reaches theend of its stroke and the valve-head 4 opens in turn against theresistance of the spring 2, thus enabling the liquefied gas to flowthrough the annular space 6 and to pass through the notch 9 into thetank of the lighter through whichever of the two slots 16 is situatedopposite said notoh, While the gaseous mixture contained in the tankpasses through the opposite slot 16 to be expolled to atmosphere throughthe drain duct 7 or '7. At the precise moment when the height of theliquid 27 (FIGURE 7) reaches the level of the slots 16, the gaseousmixture remaining in the lighter tank is imprisoned in the safety zone23. The inflow of liquefied gas continues but there is then an escape ofliquefied gas through the drain 7 or 7 in the form of a fine clearlyvisible mist. The supply cylinder is then withdrawn and the twovalvehcad-s of the valves 4 and 17 instantaneously re-close under theaction of the springs 2 and 13. The lighter tank now has stored "withinit the required amount of fuel.

in FIGURES l, 2, 8 and 9, arrows clearly indicate the path followed bythe liquefied gas introduced into the lighter, and the escape path takenby the gaseous mixture expelled to atmosphere.

With reference to FlGURl-E 6, it will be seen that lighters having anescape valve independent of the filling valve may be very rapidly filledwith liquefied gas, within 3-5 seconds only in practice, since theoutflow through these escape valves is equal to, if not greater than,the infiow through the intake valve ducts; it follows from this that theliquefied gas under pressure meets practically no resistance within thetank and is swept into the latter where its jet 25, of great force,produces turbulence and bubbling 26; it follows that the liquefied gasis projected violently towards the top part of the lighter tank, andthat a certain amount thereof is expelled to atmophere together with thegaseous mixture through the escape valve 24 before the actual level ofliquefied gas in the tank has reached the desired height; experienceshows that in these conditions it is impossible for the lighter to befilled with a strictly proportioned amount of fuel; filling is carriedout only up to /s to of the required volume, depending on the greater orlesser force of the jet 25. This phenomenon naturally takes place in theclosed interior of the lighter tank and remains invisible and henceoutside the users knowledge. It is very important to recognise, however,since pocket-lighter tanks have only a relatively small capacity,varying from 48 grams of liquid butane, and can give an average smokertwo to four months service, that if the lighter tank is filled only to/s to /5 of its actual capacity, the average duration of the fillingwill only be from 1-2 months instead of [from 24 months. In view of thestructure of the escape ducts and of the intake valves of lighters ofthis kind it is very difiicult for the lighter manufacturers to obviatethis serious disadvantage.

According to the invention, on the other hand, the possible outflowthrough the escape duct 7 or '7' is much less than the inliow of liquidgas 'past the intake valve; as a result, during filling of the lighterthe gaseous mixture cannot be expelled so rapidly and hence undergoes aconsiderable compression which has the effect of braking the inflow ofliquefied gas; moreover, contrary to known intake valves, in which thejet or liquefied gas 25 is discharged directly into the lighter tank,the jet produced according to the invention flows horizontally throughone of the very narrow slots 16 which stems the stream of butane liquidand acts as a jet-breaker; the fuel flows slowly into the tank withoutany turbulence. Filling of the lighter is naturally of necessityslightly slower (5-10 seconds instead of from 3-5) but each filling iscomplete and strictly regulated as regards quantity.

Furthermore, in all gas lighter tanks there must be a safety zone fullof a gaseous mixture after filling with the liquefied gas; this safetyzone which varies according to the capacity of the tank may be obtainedvery easily according to the invention without the slightestmodification to the essential components of the supply cylinder valve orthe lighter valve. The neck of the storage or supply cylinder in whichthe valve elements (in practice the valve casing 1) are mounted is verylong and can thus be introduced to a greater or lesser depth into thecasing 15; it is only necessary to lengthen or shorten this casing forthe slots 16 to be farther away from or nearer to the wall 11, thusvarying the height of the safety zone 28.

The quantitatively proportioned filling of gas lighters of differentshapes or capacities is therefore rendered possible by the invention andhence it is possible to use large gascylinders containing a sufficientamount of liquefied gas to permit repeated filling of the lighters.These gas cylinders being provided with valves which are practicallyproof against wear, provision can readily be made for empty cylinders tobe changed for full cylinders. it would thus be possible finally to makeliquefied gas available to users at very low prices, and this wouldpromote an expansion in the sale of gas lighters. The users of suchlighters could in turn fill such lighters easily, rapidly and,particularly, very economically.

The present invention is naturally not limited to the embodimentsdescribed and illustrated but covers all modifications as regards formand dimensions; it applies to all types of liquefied gas lighter withoutexception, the ignition mechanism of which may be manual, semiautomaticor automatic, within the range defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An arrangement for filling with liquefied gas contained in a gassupply cylinder a lighter tank having a top wall, lateral walls and abottom wall, comprising in combination,

(a) a cylindrical supply valve casing in said gas supply cylinder,

(b) a supply valve seat in said supply valve casing,

(c) a supply valve head movable towards and away from said supply valveseat in said supply valve cas- ([1) a supply valve stem connected tosaid supply valve head,

(e) a cylindrical lighter valve casing in the top wall of the tank,

(1) a lighter sealing and valve-seating assembly having two parallelannular end faces one of which is adjacent to said supply valve casingand the other is directed towards the interior of the tank and forms alighter valve seat in said lighter valve casing,

(g) a lighter valve head movable towards and away from said lightervalve seat in said lighter valve casing,

( h) a lighter valve stem comiected to said lighter valve head,

( said stem coming into contact with each other to effect opening ofsaid valve heads,

(k) a biasing spring for each of said valve heads,

(I) the biasing spring for the supply valve head being more powerfulthan the biaising spring for the lighter valve head,

(In) a spring abutment in each of said valve casings and on each of saidvalve stems,

(n) a cylindrical nozzle terminataing said supply valve casing towardsthe exterior of gas supply cylinder,

(o) a notch at the outer edge of said nozzle,

(p) a slot closabl-e by said lighter valve head, formed of twodiametrically opposed sectors each extending over a little less thanprovided in the cylindrical wall of said lighter valve casing, andlocated in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said lighter valvecasing at a distance from the top Wall of the tank determining theheight of a desirable safety zone in which there must be a gaseousmixture when the tank is full,

(q) an escape duct having a wall which is partially formed in saidlighter sealing and valve-seating assembly in communication with saidslot and leading to the atmosphere,

(1') said notch in said nozzle being in communication with said slotwhen said supply cylinder is seated over said lighter tank for fillingsaid tank, and

(s) the effective area of said escape duct being substantially less thanthat of said notch in said nozzle.

2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the length of said cylindrical nozzle is greater than the distancewhich, in the open position of both said valve heads, separates thesealing surface of said lighter valve head from the end face of saidlighter sealing and valve-seating assembly adjacent to said supply valvecasing, and

(b) the outside diameter of said supply valve casing is less than theinner diameter of said lighter valve casing.

3.v An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein the inside diameter ofsaid lighter sealing and valve-seating assembly is about S- lt)hundredths of a millimeter larger than the outside diameter of saidcylindrical nozzle, and the escape duct is formed by the annular spacebounded by said nozzle and assembly during filling of the lighter.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical nozzlepenetrates with slight friction into a sealing gasket forming a part ofsaid lighter sealing and valve-seating assembly and an end face of whichforms said lighter valve head seating, the escape duct is formed by agroove disposed along a generatrix of the cylindrical outside surface ofsaid nozzle, and the notch is diametrically opposite said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,989,091 Lowenthal June 20, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 141 187 Austria Mar.25.. 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3 l15 9O7 December 31 1963 Antoine Labat It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 51 for "or" read of column 5 line 52, for "terminataing"read terminating e Signed and sealed this 16th day of June 19640 (SEALAttest:

ERNEST W; SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer

1. AN ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING WITH LIQUEFIED GAS CONTAINED IN A GASSUPPLY CYLINDER A LIGHTER TANK HAVING A TOP WALL, LATERAL WALLS AND ABOTTOM WALL, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A CYLINDRICAL SUPPLY VALVECASING IN SAID GAS SUPPLY CYLINDER, (B) A SUPPLY VALVE SEAT IN SAIDSUPPLY VALVE CASING, (C) A SUPPLY VALVE HEAD MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAYFROM SAID SUPPLY VALVE SEAT IN SAID SUPPLY VALVE CASING, (D) A SUPPLYVALVE STEM CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPLY VALVE HEAD, (E) A CYLINDRICALLIGHTER VALVE CASING IN THE TOP WALL OF THE TANK, (F) A LIGHTER SEALINGAND VALVE-SEATING ASSEMBLY HAVING TWO PARALLEL ANNULAR END FACES ONE OFWHICH IS ADJACENT TO SAID SUPPLY VALVE CASING AND THE OTHER IS DIRECTEDTOWARDS THE INTERIOR OF THE TANK AND FORMS A LIGHTER VALVE SEAT IN SAIDLIGHTER VALVE CASING, (G) A LIGHTER VALVE HEAD MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAYFROM SAID LIGHTER VALVE SEAT IN SAID LIGHTER VALVE CASING, (H) A LIGHTERVALVE STEM CONNECTED TO SAID LIGHTER VALVE HEAD, (J) SAID STEMS COMINGINTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER TO EFFECT OPENING OF SAID VALVE HEADS, (K)A BIASING SPRING FOR EACH OF SAID VALVE HEADS, (L) THE BIASING SPRINGFOR THE SUPPLY VALVE HEAD BEING MORE POWERFUL THAN THE BIASING SPRINGFOR THE LIGHTER VALVE HEAD,